Ohio Football

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Schedule Breakdown: GWOC Central

By Greg Shoemaker | Featured Analyst

We take an in-depth look at the schedule of the teams inside the GWOC Central for 2012:

NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS

Beavercreek: FAIRFIELD, CARROLL (DIII), @Hilliard Davidson, @Piqua (DII), FAIRBORN - If the Battlin’ Beavers want to make a run at the post-season they must go 4-1 to start the season and that is an attainable goal.

Centerville: @Elder, SPRINGBORO, WITHROW, @Lebanon, GREENVILLE (DII) - Sweeping the table would put the Elks in a good position to host a first-round playoff game. Go 3-2 in this stretch and it will be a dogfight to get into the post-season during divisional play.

Fairmont: ALTER (DIII), MIAMISBURG, @Springboro, @Trotwood-Madison (DII), LEBANON - Firebirds will be tested to the max. These foes went a combined 47-19 last season and all signs point to each of them being even better in 2012.

Northmont: vs. Princeton, @Westerville South, LAKOTA EAST, @Fairborn, SIDNEY - It is there for the taking it the Thunderbolts should come out of this no worse that 3-2.

Springfield: HAMILTON, MIDDLETOWN @Troy, @Sycamore, XENIA - Welcome to The Show, Eric Gillespie. The Wildcats’ new head coach squares off against some big time coaches and programs to start his tenure. We will see if he is up to the challenge.

Wayne: TBD (Skyline Crosstown Showdown), CANTON McKINLEY, TROTWOOD-MADISON (DII), @Xenia, @Butler (DII): Warriors have the talent to run the table and if they do pencil Wayne in a s team to makes some noise in November.

DIVISIONAL OPPONENTS

Beavercreek: @Northmont, @Wayne, SPRINGFIELD, CENTERVILLE, @Fairmont – The Battlin' Beavers have a tough go of it on the road in divisional play. Running the table at home is very realistic.

Centerville: @Fairmont, NORTHMONT, WAYNE, @Beavercreek, @Springfield – It looks as if the Elks in line for sixth straight playoff berth and eighth in last nine years.

Fairmont: CENTERVILLE, @Springfield, NORTHMONT, @Wayne, BEAVERCREEK - A 7-3 record should be good enough to get the Firebirds into the post-season. That means they would have beaten at least four of these teams - Centerville, Wayne, Northmont, Alter, Springboro, Trotwood-Madison and Lebanon.

Northmont: BEAVERCREEK, @Centerville, @Fairmont, SPRINGFIELD, WAYNE - Wins over GMC peers Fairfield and Lakota East might just be enough to get the Thunderbolts back to the dance.

Springfield: @Wayne, FAIRMONT, @Beavercreek, @Northmont, CENTERVILLE – The road foes are blocking the Wildcats’ drive to November.

Wayne: SPRINGFIELD, BEAVERCREEK, @Centerville, FAIRMONT, @Northmont - It all comes down to beating the teams that they couldn't a year ago. The Warriors have plenty of losses to avenge from 2011.

FINAL TAKE: The road to the post-season will be touch for Springfield and Fairmont with such grueling schedules. Northmont and Beavercreeek have paths that are friendly to them playing in Week 11. However, they will need to make their own breaks along the way. Wayne and Centerville have to show they can play and win against tough, non-conference competition, something they did not accomplish last year. The bids for Week 11 spots in Division I, Region 4 (and Region 3 for Springfield) all comes down to how well the GWOC Central fares against their non-conference foes. It could mean the difference between sending one, two or three teams to the playoffs.

Greg is a co-founder of TSF and is now entering his ninth season as a Featured Analyst for the website. The Xavier University grad also serves as the Content Manager for the website and is widely considered one of the top high school football experts in the region. If you are interested in covering your team, please CONTACT US.